Chemotherapy Treatment Uses and Side Effects

 What is Chemotherapy and its Uses

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that involves use of medications. For cancer patients, this is a non-invasive treatment modality. The medications are usually administered via the veins. However, certain medications are taken orally. Drugs are sometimes injected directly into the abdominal cavity, pleural cavity (chest), or urinary bladder.

Chemotherapy for cancer treatment


According to a renowned radiation oncologist in Kolkata, chemotherapy is frequently used in conjunction with other treatments, including surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy. The use of combination therapy is determined by the following factors:

·         Your general health

·         Past cancer therapies

·         The type and stage of cancer you have

·         Location of cancerous cells

Chemotherapy drugs can stop cancer cells from growing and dividing. The chemo process also affects the body's regular dividing/multiplying cells, including  red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hair growth, nails, and stomach and intestine mucosa.

Why It is Used

Chemotherapy for cancer treatment helps in

·         Reducing the possibility of cancer metastasis

·         Lowering the count of overall cancerous cells

·         Shrinking the tumour size

·         Lessening cancer symptoms

Your oncologist may recommend chemotherapy after you've had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour, such as a lumpectomy for breast cancer, to ensure that any remaining cancer cells are eliminated as well.

Chemotherapy might also be used to help you prepare for other procedures. It could be used to shrink a tumour so that it can be physically removed, or it could be used to help you prepare for radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy may help alleviate pain in late-stage cancer patients.

 

Chemotherapy can be used to prepare individuals with bone marrow problems for a bone marrow stem cell treatment, and it can also be used to treat immune system abnormalities.

What are Its Side Effects

Chemotherapy is used to kill rapidly dividing cells. While cancer cells divide rapidly, other cells in your body do as well. Chemotherapy has the potential to harm cells in the following areas:

·         The lining of your intestinal tract

·         Blood

·         Hair

·         Skin

Side effects caused by chemotherapy treatment include:

·         Excessive bleeding and quick bruising

·         Mouth sores, diarrhoea, and dry mouth

·         Decrease in appetite

·         Nausea

·         Vomiting

·         Loss of weight

·         Pain caused by nerve damage

·         Infections

·         Anaemia

·         Constipation

·         Neuropathy

·         Lymphedema

·         Issues with memory

·         Difficulties with concentrating

·         alterations in the skin

·         alterations to the nails

·         Insomnia

·         Changes in fertility

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